System and method for repairing a conduit

Abstract

A system and method for making a repair to a damaged section of a conduit includes a pair of couplers, which securely mate, with undamaged sections of the conduit, which straddle the damaged section of the conduit; and a bridging duct, which replaces the damaged section. In one embodiment, the couplers are placed around the undamaged section of the conduit and the bridging duct is placed around the couplers.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A utility conduit repair system, the conduit including two sections, the conduit repair system comprising: 
       a bridging duct linking the two sections of the conduit; and  
       a pair of couplers each having an inner coupling section and an outer coupling section, the pair of couplers each mating with the bridging duct and the two sections of the conduit, the outer coupling section of each of the couplers mating with one of the two sections of the conduit and the inner coupling section of each of the couplers mating with the bridging duct, each of said couplers further comprising a hinge and a slit allowing the coupler to be opened and closed along the slit.  
     
     
       2. A conduit repair system of  claim 1 , wherein said bridging duct has a slit along its length and opposing walls along the slit and includes a fastener pressing the opposing walls together. 
     
     
       3. A conduit repair system of  claim 1 , wherein the inner coupling section and the outer coupling section are each implemented as a truncated cone. 
     
     
       4. A conduit repair system of  claim 2 , wherein each of the opposing walls of the bridging duct comprises a slot and the fastener comprises at least one locking clip for engaging the slot. 
     
     
       5. A conduit repair system of  claim 2  wherein said fastener comprises adhesive placed on the opposing walls of said bridging duct. 
     
     
       6. A conduit repair system, the conduit including two sections, the conduit repair system comprising: 
       a bridging duct linking the two sections of the conduit; and  
       a pair of couplers each having an inner coupling section and an outer coupling section, the pair of couplers each mating with the bridging duct and the two sections of the conduit, the outer coupling section of each of the couplers mating with one of the two sections of the conduit and the inner coupling section of each of the couplers mating with the bridging duct;  
       wherein each of said couplers comprises a rib separating the inner coupling section and the outer coupling section, the rib including a hinge opposite a slit for allowing the coupler to be opened and closed along the slit.  
     
     
       7. A conduit repair system of  claim 6 , wherein said bridging duct has a slit along its length and opposing walls along the slit and includes a fastener pressing the opposing walls together. 
     
     
       8. A conduit repair system of  claim 6 , wherein the inner coupling section and the outer coupling section are each implemented as a truncated cone. 
     
     
       9. A conduit repair system of  claim 7 , wherein each of the opposing walls of the bridging duct comprises a slot and the fastener comprises at least one locking clip for engaging the slot. 
     
     
       10. A conduit repair system of  claim 7  wherein said fastener comprises adhesive placed on the opposing walls of said bridging duct. 
     
     
       11. A method of repairing a utility conveyance conduit that houses at least one inner conduit, the utility conveyance conduit including two sections, the method comprising the steps of: 
       placing two couplers around the at least one inner conduit,  
       mating each of the two sections of the utility conveyance conduit with a corresponding one of the couplers, and  
       mating each coupler with a bridging duct.  
     
     
       12. A method of repairing a conduit as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein the step of mating each coupler with a bridging duct further comprises the step of, 
       placing the bridging duct around each coupler, and  
       pressing opposing walls of the bridging duct together.  
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12  including the further step of fastening the opposing walls upon pressing them together.